Barackary Clintama

I've started to hold out some vague hope for the next presidential elections. At least, unlike the last time, it looks like I'll have enough choices to make voting in the Democratic primary worth my while. Last time I was so non-plussed with my choices for Democratic nominee that I voted in the Republican primary just so I could have the pleasure of voting against Dubya twice in the same year (which had the unfortunate side effect of putting me on the Republican mailing list. Although I've often entertained the idea of showing up at some of the party events I get invites to just to blow their minds). Don't get me wrong, I like John Kerry just fine. I just think it's an indication of how badly people wanted to get rid of Bush even in 2004 that Kerry did as well as he did. Speaking as a fellow tall, funny-looking egghead, he just wasn't electable. So at this point it looks like it will be Obama vs. Clinton for the Democratic nomination (although lord knows things can change in second-- anyone remember Tsongas?). The first thought to cross my mind at this pairing is "it's bloody well about time." But that's immediately followed by "what the hell is all the fuss about?" Here are two highly intelligent, highly qualified individuals who are insane enough to want to be president of the United States. Who cares what colored pieces of flesh they have or don't have? Of course, sadly, there are a lot of voters out there who do care. There are probably plenty of people in this country who will look at that ballot and think to themselves, "Oh, I don't know if a woman is strong enough to be president" or "I don't know if a black is smart enough to be president." That's seriously fucked up, but there it is. Welcome to America. So who do I like? I have to say that I have a really hard time getting behind Clinton. She's always struck me as a bit of a party follower rather than leader. As senator she's gone with the pack on several things, most notably the war in Iraq, that I don't think would have cost her much political capital to oppose. While that may not be enough to knock her off some people's lists, I think it may be indicative of a larger issue. We're really going to need someone who will move forward with confidence and do what they believe in, rather than someone who is going to do what is politically safe or what her advisors say should be done. Obama on the other hand impresses the hell out of me. Not only is he obviously extremely intelligent, motivated, and passionate, he can actually express all those things in a way that anyone can connect to and understand. He comes across as open and honest with nothing to hide. Of course, that all means that if he does have something to hide he damn well better not get caught because it would kill his campaign or presidency in a second. It's a shame that we have come to distrust politicians so much that such an event seems entirely possible. What blows my mind about Obama though is how he's being received by the black political community. First, there are those who seem to think he can't be involved in black politics because he didn't pay his dues in the civil rights struggle. But even worse, there's this overwhelming response from so many of them that essentially seems to boil down to "he's not black enough." Here's a guy who in a lot of ways embodies MLK's dream. He happens to be the child of an African father and white mother (which, incidentally, makes him much more African American than most) who experienced all the advantages that any white child would have received growing up, being judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin. So now just because he's managed to connect to white voters in a way Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson didn't he's not black enough? Just because he went to Harvard and had a priviledged upbringing he can't represent Black America? The one that really kills me is the suggestion that African Americans won't vote for Obama because he didn't have the "Black Experience" growing up. So apparently a necessary condition of representing Black America is growing up experiencing poverty, prejudice, violence, and all the other stereotypical issues associated with the racial problems in this country? Making this claim hurts African Americans everywhere by solidifying these stereotypes, further alienating those who are too prejudiced to see that we're all human and all have the same concerns and problems. But whether it's Clinton or Obama, the country is changing for the better right in front of us. America is finally catching up with the 21st century and beginning to overcome the prejudices and contradictions that have haunted us ever since Jefferson and his little group decided to claim as self-evident that all Men are created equal.